LG4 Cam
 

I've been thinking about doing some engine work on my '87 T/A. I have a set of aluminum heads and an edelbrock intake I was going to install. I was also thinking about changing the cam while I'm that far into it.

Here is the problem. Originally 87 engines had a roller cam, but shortly after i bought the car I replaced the motor with a Jasper LG4 replacement. I guess to cut cost on there part they put in a regular hydraulic flat tappet cam instead of the roller. Should I convert it back to roller setup or try and stick with a flat tappet cam? There is a pretty big price difference in cam/lifter kits.

the factory block has tapped holes in the intake valley to mount the lifter "spider" retainer in order to use the stock roller lifters if it is a non-roller 305 block, those tapped holes are not there and youd have to go to an aftermarket set or roller lifters, just keep that in mind.

It has the bolt holes and all for a roller setup but for some reason they put a flat tappet cam in. I noticed it when I was installing the motor and probably should have said something to Jasper about it.

order a set of roller lifters & cam from trick flow. will work real nice.

there should also be bolt holes behind the timing chain for the cam retainer plate. Most early-mid 90 truck motors (LO5 for example) were roller blocks with Flat tappet cams.

My L05 has a roller cam. I thought all flat tappets were out teh door after 86?

Does it have centerbolt valve covers? If it does, then its a roller block, so just get a roller cam.

unless the heads have changed. lots of guys put vortecs on old blocks.

Ok...well then thats a Vortec head, still has center bolt,a nd still use a roller cam.

This is a LG4 stock replacement engine. Unless someone swapped Vortec heads on it, its the stock stuff, and if its a LG4 replacment for an 87 Camaro, then it should be a roller motor.

yeah, but jasper screwed him

i have a 305 roller block in a 92 camaro rs if you need the roller cam lifters and the retainers im looking for 25 if you pull it

It is a roller block but when it was rebuilt they installed a flat tappet cam. I have a set of aluminum vette heads and an intake I was going to throw on there and I was thinking about doing a cam while I was that far into it.

It's only a 305 so I didn't want to throw a lot of money at it. That's why I was thinking about sticking with a flat tappet cam.

If you don't want to spend the extra money, you can toss an aftermarket flat tappet cam in there with no issues.

PM Sent

- Justin

Not all center bolt heads are "Vortecs"... the ones that people like to swap on didn't come around until '96

Back on topic: If you don't really want to dump to much into this engine then throw in the flat tappet and call it a day. Just don't forget your oil additive!

He knows that....he was responding to Scott saying that a lot of guys stick Vortecs on older blocks.

- Justin